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What’s the Difference Between Soft and Hard Water?

hard-water-vs-soft-water

Is a water softener really worth it? Is hard water even that bad?

Well, if any of those questions bother you, you’re in the right place. In premise, hard water is excessively diluted with naturally-occurring minerals.

Whereas, soft water is free of such chemicals.

In this article, we will cover what is hard water, and what is soft water.

So keep reading to figure out which is which, and why it matters.

So What Exactly Is Hard Water?

As mentioned earlier, hard water is excessively diluted with naturally-occurring minerals, specifically magnesium and calcium.

The higher the quantity of these two minerals in the water, the higher it will rank on the scale for hard water.

While both essential to our health, magnesium, and calcium are not critical to water usage. In fact, hard water can have a detrimental impact on your household.

When water is used for purposes of cleaning, you might notice film residue or spots on your shower, clothing, or dishes.

hard water deposits faucet ex

Not to mention, you might find particle deposits inside of your appliances. When hard water is heated, the calcium forms into deposits.

If this begins to increase greatly, the damage and lifespan of your appliances are reduced tremendously.

This includes the pipes in your home. To make the matter worse, your heating bill will skyrocket. If your water is too hard, you might also notice its effect on your hygiene.

Hard water can leave a residue on your hair, skin, and hands after a wash. Because of this your hair and skin will feel brittle and dry.

It’s up to the water supplier to test the hard water before distributing it. However, you can still combat the hardness of water by softening it.

Using a softener helps remove impurities, as well as magnesium and calcium. Learn more about this from water softener companies.

Ok, But What About Soft Water?

Soft water is free of these minerals, which damage your body and home. As it is soft, it’s gentle on your body. Without magnesium or calcium, soft water prevents the buildup of deposits in your pipes and appliances.

Not to mention, it improves the efficiency of soap, as hard water can deplete the ingredients in it. Soft water also helps combat the stickiness and dryness caused by hard water, low humidity, and cold weather.

So what does this mean? Softer skin and hair after each wash. Soften your water, soften your life.

How Do I Tell Which Is Which?

By looking at water, it’s practically impossible to tell if it’s soft or hard. Sometimes the feel of it can be a good indicator, as well as what it does to your dishes or clothes.

However, for more intricate signs of hard water, look out for this:

  1. A film on your hands after washing. This is caused by calcium reacting with the soap.
  2. Stained clothing. Clothes can wear out faster because of the minerals in the water.
  3. Lessened water pressure. Mineral deposits can shrink the diameter of pipes, thus reducing water flow.

And here some signs that indicate soft water:

  1. A thick lather when washing hands, dishes, and clothes
  2. Clothes are cleaner with no damage or stains
  3. Water pressure is perfect
  4. Water has a slight taste of sodium

However, that’s not always the case. The taste can often be imperceptible to most people.

In any case, water is water, but the way it is used can be severely impacted by the type of chemical composition that is part of it. So whatever you’re going for, make sure to accommodate the water for your needs.

Does Hard Water Have Any Serious Health Risks?

drinking-hard-water

When it comes to drinking hard water, there are no serious health issues. However, hard water can dry out your hair and skin. Washing your often with hard water will make your scalp itchy.

The minerals in the water can change the pH balance of your skin, making it susceptible to infections and bacteria. People with skin conditions are specifically vulnerable.

If you find problems with your hair or skin, you might want to consider a softener for your water. If that’s not possible, speak to your dermatologist who can recommend some products to combat the effects of hard water.

Does Soft Water Have Any Serious Health Risks?

If your diet includes lots of magnesium and calcium, then there is no risk to drinking soft water. However, if your diet is naturally deficient, taking these vitamins as supplements will be more than enough to meet your needs.

The greater concern is for those who have high blood pressure, because soft water has a tendency to raise blood pressure, due to increase vascularity. Just as they are advised to not add excessive salt to their food, they might be advised not to drink soft water.

It’s also more likely to pick up lead from water pipes that have not been treated for lead leach, so keep that in mind.

Your Water, Your Rules

Now that you know about the difference between hard water and soft water, you are well on your way to determining which is best for you. In any case, considering, that there are no serious adverse side-effects, it doesn’t really matter, and it comes down to preference.

After all, it’s your water, and your rules. So whatever you choose to do, it will be the right thing to do. If you’re interested in similar topics, feel free to look through our categorical filtered pages at the top of the website.

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